Animal-trap.



No. 893,916. PATENTED JULY 21, 1908 l G. L. & H.-M. FULMER.

ANIMAL TRAP.

AIPLIOATION FILED MAR. 18. 1908.

5 hSSu mwmk mi I and will be accessible to the view and to the UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES L. FULMER AND HARRY M. FULMER, OF MUN CIE, INDIANA.

ANIMAL-TRAP.

N 0. 893,916. Specification of Letters Patent.

' Application filed March 18, 1908. Serial No. 421,863.

Patented July 21, 1908.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, CHARLES L. FULMER and HARRY M. FULMER, citizens of the United States, and residing in the city of Muncie, in the county of Delaware and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Animal-Trap, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of this invention are to provide a device for entrapping the smaller animals which will be certain in operation, simple and economical in construction, durable, and not liable to get out of repair.

The objects of our invention are accomplished by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side view. Fig. 2 is a plan View, and Fig. 3 is an end view of our improved animal-trap com lete. Fig. 4 is a View of Fig. 1 the cover-p ate being shown in open position. Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 5-5 Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the snapweight removed.

Similar characters of reference refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The receptacle A which constitutes the body of the trap is constructed of wood and is box-like in form and has the proportions substantially as shown. While we have shown this receptacle constructed of wood it will be understood that it may be made as well of sheet-metal. In this wooden construction thereof, the metallic lining A is provided.

The cover-plate B which is hingedly secured on the side of this receptacle has a baitbox centrally disposed thereon extending transversely of the cover-plate, formed by the suitable side and end plates 0, and having the lid D thereon.

Secured on top of the cover-plate and each having its end joined to the side of the baitscent of the animal that comes into the vi cinity of the trap.

Positioned in the door-openings F are the trap-doors H which are of such dimensions as erfectly free to move therein and are ivota ly supported by the shafts I which ave their ends journaled in the boxings J. These boxings consist of a cast metal clip having a semicircular channel or groove therein of proper depth to receive the shaft I, and have suitable holes in the ends through which the rivets K are assed to secure the same to the cover-plate l3.

Secured on the underside and rear-end of the trap-doors H are the snap-weights L which are of the .general form as plainly shown in Fig. 4, Fig. 5, and Fig. 6. The shaft I having its ends supported pivotally in the boxings J and which is suitably secured to the underside of the trap-door is located on a line to the rear of the center of the tra door so that although the snap-weight wil sustain the trap-door normally in closed position, ressure on the frontal portion of the trap oor will cause it to instantly move downwardly, and as soon as the pressure is removed the trap-door will be returned instantly to the closed position.

To the end that the rear portion of the door-openings F may at all times be closed, we have devised the sna -weight L of the form and constructionas s own. This snapweight is preferably of cast metal and in the preferred form of this detail, as shown, the exterior surface of the body L is curvilinear and has the form of a quadrant, each of the tongues L are provided with the channel L which will rigidly en age the shaft I. The lip L extends upward y and engages the rear end of the trap-door so that whensuitable screws are passed through the holes L, the snap weight and the shaft I will be held in correct and rigid position. By this arrangebox are the run-way plates E, the function ment the rear portion of the door-opening is whereof will be presently disclosed. kept closed when the frontal portion is open,

F designates door openings of suitable and a trap-door that is exceedingly sensitive length and width located between the runand reliable in operation is obtained. way plates E. The forward ends of each of Our invention complete, appears as shown these openings extend a slight distance bein the drawings. yond the exterior edge of the side-plate C of The device may be used either above, or the bait-box. embedded in the ground. When it is de- G designates openings in the side-plates O sired that the animal to be trapped shall not in which the bait will at all times be present be kept alive, water is deposited in the receptacle to a sufficient depthabout eight inches-in our improved trap of standard size, as shown in Fig. 5.

In the use of our improved trap, bait of suitable kind is deposited in the bait-box where it will be present at the openings G and on the front end of the trap-doors H, accessible to the view and to the scent. The animal will be attracted by the bait and in its effort to get same will be lured onto the trap-door H. Coincident with the movement of the animal onto the trap-door, the front end will immediately drop; the runway-plates E will prevent the animal from obtaining any hold and it will slide helplessly into the receptacle below. The snap-weight will cause the trap-door to return instantaneously to the closed position, and will have kept the rear portion of the door-opening completely closed during the operation of the opening and closing of the front portion of the door-opening.

The means to keep closed the rear of the door-openings, while the trap-door is operated performs the function of preventing all possible escape of any of the animals that are entrapped. Of course when water is used in the receptacle all effort of the animal to escape is put to an end as the animal will be drowned.

Our invention is especially intended as a trap for rats and mice, and bait such as cornmeal or cheese may be used.

What we claim as our invention and de sire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

In an animal trap of the kind described,

the combination of a cover-plate, a trap-door having a quadrant shaped weight secured on its underside and provided with tongues L havin channels side 0' said cover-plate, a shaft I rigidly retained in the said channels L and journaledin the said housings, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES L. FULMER. HARRY M. FULMER.

Witnesses:

ETHEL L. LISTER, THOMAS L. RYAN.

,housings on the under- 

